Movies and interviews from 23 July 2013

Summoned to Japan by an old acquaintance, Wolverine becomes embroiled in a conflict that forces him to confront his own demons.

Margaret: David:

The Wolverine

Rated M

Review by Jason Di Rosso

REVIEW BY JASON DI ROSSOWolverine is not a happy man. He's living like a hermit in the Canadian wilderness, disillusioned and haunted by nightmares - as you would be if you'd killed the love of your life in your previous film. Don't ask - super hero relationships are complicated. But a mysterious female ninja (RILA FUKUSHIMA) tracks him down and pulls him out of his solitude, convincing him to come to Japan to visit an old friend - the head of a massive technology company - who is gravely ill. Wolverine arrives just before the man's death, and becomes caught up in a bloody power struggle for control of the company. He helps the man's granddaughter and heiress Mariko (TAO OKAMOTO) avoid a Yakuza kidnapping, and learns that no one - especially not the sinister looking Western palliative care nurse (SVETLANA KHODCHENKOVA) - can be trusted. Trouble is, while on the run he is starting to feel weak, and losing the ability to regenerate after injury. Wolverine may just be about to become mortal, like the rest of us.

Director James Mangold who made (3:10 TO YUMA) directs action with flair - there's a fight scene atop a bullet train with a knife wielding Yakuza that's the most exhilarating sequence I've seen all year. But he also has fun with the film's slightly kooky moments. Like when Wolverine is made to have a bath by two old Japanese women with scrubbing brushes, or when a hotel he tries to book in to turns out to be a lover's motel with kinky themed rooms. The film's trio of writers, who between them have worked on films like MINORITY REPORT, UNSTOPPABLE and THE USUAL SUSPECTS have clearly delivered some great material. Unfortunately, while character drives the first half, at around the midway point - just as Wolverine is making eyes at Mariko - plot mechanics start to take over. The film becomes less and less interesting and doesn't do a lot with the mortality versus immortality dilemma. I stopped doubting, way too long before the end, if things were going to turn out alright for our hero.

Further comments

JASON: Judith, what did you think?

JUDITH: Well, I actually could have done without the romance between Mariko and Wolverine, especially because she looks about 12 and he looks like a scary, punked-up, middle-aged guy who could kill her with one of his old guy veins. I do agree with you, I reckon the second half of the film is much more predictable and I actually thought the final fight sequence was just nowhere near as satisfying as it could have been. But you know what: I had a ball, I've got to say.

JASON: You did?

JUDITH: Yes. I thought filming it in Japan was really smart because that country is just fascinating in and of itself but it seemed a very appropriate place for Wolverine's contradiction. Great kick-arse ladies in this film. I loved Rila Fukushima as Yukio. That fight sequence on top of the bullet train is sensational.

JASON: That was fantastic. That was the best fight sequence, as I say, I've seen on top of a train. Really outstanding.

JUDITH: Yes, great 3D there. Great use of that, which normally I'm not a big fan of.

JASON: Yes, I found myself ducking my head while I was watching it. Absolutely.

JUDITH: I say strap yourself to one of his biceps and have a really fun ride. I'm giving it three and a half.

Comments (13)

Leigh :

05 Nov 2014 9:46:13pm

((The Wolverine))[[6]]It's definitely fun and entertaining. Perhaps as I didn't get to see this in 3D, I missed out on the bullet train scene being so spectacular. It was one of the only action scenes that fell on the wrong side of sheer ridiculousness for me. But still very entertaining! Hugh Jackman is great to watch as Wolverine, even though his accent travels from American to Australian quite often. I too could have done without the romance, didn't think the film needed it. Overall, should keep most fans of the franchise and genre pretty satisfied.

TJO :

Brutus :

03 Sep 2013 12:40:08pm

((The Wolverine))[[7]]Better than the last one, and a reasonable interpretation of the original source material (a series of Wolverine comics from several decades ago). The train sequence was underwhelming, despite the praise it is getting. Quirky tone in parts. Quite a touching love story, though the constant flashbacks to his love for Jean Grey were unnecessary. While the action sequnces tended towards silly, and the plot device where Wolverine becomes vulnerable was overly laboured,it ended up being more entertaining than I thought it would be.

Rebecca :

29 Aug 2013 2:05:41am

((The Wolverine))[[6]]An enjoyable action flick. I thought it was interesting that there were very few mutants in this film so all the action was very punchy with 'regular' people, rather than people with these seemingly magical superpowers. The train fight scene really is quite amazing to watch. How the fight sequence ends is pretty great too. I appreciated the humour in this movie. The end fight scene I was pretty unsure about - it was fairly cool but I found it a bit too unbelievable. That is until right at the end of it; it made more sense after that.

Bodgehead :

Simon :

07 Aug 2013 9:37:10am

((The Wolverine))[[5]]Some great action but, as in most Hollywood blockbusters these days the villains in this film were completely forgettable and almost irrelevant. Basically all you need to know is that everyone in Japan is bad except for the two hot chicks....

KitKat :

05 Aug 2013 9:39:55pm

((The Wolverine))[[4]]First Wolverine film i have seen. 14 y.o daughter said the others wre much better.I agree, the first half was great...then it kinda lost the plot a bit. The romance was pityful. A few of the jokes were good, but the one-liner by Logan "Go Fuck Yourself" to his lovers' ex-boyfriend was beyond belief! I was really let down by the second half.

BJS :

01 Aug 2013 7:57:24am

((The Wolverine))[[1]]The film opens with the atomic bomb being dropped on Nagasaki reminding us of that horror and humanity's capacity for killing other human beings in wanton destruction. The film then goes on to depict this same capacity presenting it as entertainment. Perhaps without the reference to the real the film may have had some value. But not only this lack of moral concern but equally character development and story line are put aside to allow for the frequent depiction of wanton violence. I am not anti violent movies in general but this films violence to me seems sadistic.

Daniel Spicer :

30 Jul 2013 7:51:20pm

((The Wolverine))[[7]]I felt the trailers weren't glamorous or colourful enough, but there are actually a few thrills in the movie, as well as consistent excitement. Logan makes a habit of stabbing enemies with his claws rather than avoiding their function. He also uses them to fight sword battles, which was great. It's a violent movie, just not as interesting as possible, not enough to look at, not enough mutants. So there was swearing, blood, action, and humour, but it's all underdone. (And you have to laugh at every person at my screening for leaving without waiting for the mid-credits scene.)

misha :

30 Jul 2013 6:53:28pm

((The Wolverine))[[6]]Not a bad movie, I didn't know what to expect having never seen a wolverine movie before, there was alot of killing (too much), but otherwise really not a bad movie. I have walked out of a lot of movies lately, but this one kept my attention. Hugh Jackman must have done alot of gym work for this movie and his american accent is good. Overall very passable.

Matt Monnau :

27 Jul 2013 4:31:09am

((The Wolverine))[[5]]James Mangold can direct good movies like copland, walk the line, 3:10, identity, and girl, interrupted. But his last two are not very promising. Knight and Day which was very forgettable and now this. It has its moments in the first act, but then succumbs to no brain blockbuster formula all too much. And shot in the terrible modern quick cutting handheld camera way, and not aided by some very cheap looking CG. Jackman is good as always, but might think about retiring the claws and moving onto some more mature efforts.

Harry Georgatos :

24 Jul 2013 8:14:36am

((The Wolverine))[[7]]Mangold captures the tortured soul of Wolverine in a more reflective manner then ever. The first 30 minutes is satisfying character and story build-up leading into one of the best action set-pieces inspired by Hong Kong cinema. This is a East-West neo-noir in Japan based on the comic book written by Frank Miller. It is a huge improvement from the last WOLVERINE movie that was major disappointment. The climax with the metallic samurai is an obvious cliche within this comic-book genre I could have done without. Still this is a solid 3D movie that bodes well.